plate no. 0878
Girls on the Balcony
Constantin Guys, 1860
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, capturing light and shadow, and creating a sense of depth using atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and architectural details with loose brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figures, balcony, and window.
- step 02
Establish the darkest values in the background and shadows on the figures.
- step 03
Begin layering in the mid-tones, focusing on the skin tones and the colors of the dresses.
- step 04
Add details to the faces, hair, and clothing, using smaller brushes.
- step 05
Refine the balcony and window details, paying attention to the perspective.
- step 06
Introduce subtle color variations within the dresses and skin tones.
- step 07
Add final highlights to create a sense of light and form.
- step 08
Review and adjust values and details as needed to achieve a cohesive look.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson
Mix skin tones by blending white, raw umber, and small amounts of alizarin crimson and yellow ochre. Achieve the dress colors by diluting ultramarine blue and yellow ochre with white.
techniques
- ·wet-on-dry blending
- ·dry brush texture
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·figure drawing
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Incorrect proportions in the figures.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper 140lb
- ·watercolor paints
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 round brush
- ·palette
- ·water container
- ·paper towels
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·ruler
Use good quality watercolor paper to allow for layering and blending. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
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